Improvement in rotary steawi-enginej



J. F. EARLY.

Rotary Steam-Engines.

No. 135,789. Patented Feb.11, 1873.

AM. more LITHOGIPAPHIC c0. N.X(0ss0R/vs.'9 mack-s5) UNITED STATES FFI JOHN F. EARLY, OF RUGKERSVILLE, VIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN ROTARY STEAM-ENGINES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Dr. JOHN F. EARLY, of near Ruckersville, in the county of Greene and State of Virginia, have invented a Rotary Steam-Engine, of which the following is a specification:

The invention consists in combining with the piston-wheel of a rotary steam-engine a series of rotary valves, that are brought by pistons into such a position as to admit steam and act as an abutment thereto, while actuated by cams on the pistonwheel to cut ofi steam at any desired point.

In the drawing, the figure represents a side elevation with parts broken out.

A in the drawing represents the hollow case, in which is placed the wheel B, made fast to a shaft that is intended to drive machinery connected therewith. Between the large circular inner face of the case and the periphery of the wheel is a steam-space, O, and on the said periphery are one or more rigid pistons, D, that divide the steam-space into as many equal parts, 0 c c. To one or more portions of the case is conjoined one'or more small circular cases, E, in which is placed a rotary-wheel, I, having notches f and valves G. The lower faces g of these valves work steam-tight against the periphery of wheel B. On one side of this valve-wheel is a series of apertures, f ,.openin g into the steam-chest which connects with boiler. These holes extend into each of the valves G, and through the front thereof. This allows the discharge of steam into spaces 0. The pistons D D are curved or cam-shaped before and behind, preferably though not necessarily perpendicular. In the rear, and at about onethird the distance from one piston to a succeeding piston, rises a cam, d, that is suffieiently elevated and elongated to carry a steamdischarging valve, Gr, far enough forward to out off steam from the steam-chest.

It will be observed that each valve G on wheel F successively discharges steam into a space, 0, becomes the steam back or abutment, and cuts 06 steam. A detent-pawl may work in a ratchet on the outside of valve-wheel shaft, to hold said wheel firmly against the steam.

The operation is as follows: The wheel B being turned so as to bring one of the apertures f in register with outlet of steamchest, the steam rushes into a space, 0, presses against a piston, D, and causes the wheel 13 to rotate. \Vhen the wheel B has moved oneninth o a revolution, the steam is cut off by a cam, that moves a valve, G, out of register with steam-chest. In practice, as this cutoff takes place asimilar valve-wheel at another point lets in steam against a piston on the opposite side.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A wheel, B, having the steam-cutoff cams (1 arranged between the pistons D, as described.

2. A notched wheel, F, provided with the series of valves G having channel-ways that receive steam at f and discharge it in front thereof, as described.

JNO. F. EARLY.

Witnesses:

SoLoN (3. KEMON, CHAS. A. PETTIT. 

